Butcher's-broom

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Ruscus aculeatus

Butcher's-broom, a reference photo
Photo: Public domain

Ruscus aculeatus, known as butcher's-broom, is a low evergreen dioecious Eurasian shrub, with flat shoots known as cladodes that give the appearance of stiff, spine-tipped leaves. Small greenish flowers appear in spring, and are borne singly in the centre of the cladodes. The female flowers are followed by a red berry, and the seeds are bird-distributed, but the plant also spreads vegetatively by means of rhizomes. It is native to Eurasia and some northern parts of Africa.

From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Is it poisonous?

We have no record of Butcher's-broom being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Family
Asparagaceae
Genus
Ruscus
Species
Ruscus aculeatus

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Butcher's-broom (Ruscus aculeatus) · B.inomen